Our History
Don Bosco's work for street children in Trivandrum began in May 1991. It started as a night shelter for street children and youth in rented facilities at Bishop Pereira Hall, Shankumugham, and Chalai Market. On December 9th, 1991, a society was registered under 'The Trivandrum Don Bosco Veedu Society' (Serial No. 963/91). The Salesians and staff were present in the bus terminals and the railway station and were involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of the children. Sever children were home placed through the nationwide network of Don Bosco, India's operation (YaR – Young at Risk, a national wide network for the children and youth who need care and protection). The significant areas of intervention were: home placement, legal support, food, clothing, medicine, temporary shelter, and education.
In 1994, some land and a building were bought at Manacaud, and the shelter home was shifted there with the name 'Don Bosco Veedu'. The work expanded, and Don Bosco was involved in the welfare of the slum dwellers at Karimadom Colony. The activities in Karimadom involved tuition centers for children, awareness creation programmes for the general people on varied topics affecting their lives, Women empowerment, micro-financial schemes, and small-scale income-generating projects. Don Bosco also played an essential role in fighting against social evils like alcoholism and drug abuse. The 'participatory model of development has resulted in local leadership and people getting better organized to face the issues that affect their lives.
In 1999 a piece of land was bought near the railway station, Thampanoor, to build and shift the shelter home to a more accessible place for children. 'Don Bosco Nivas' was inaugurated on January 31st, 2002.
Ten projects are currently operations for the welfare of women and children. They are:
- CHILDLINE
- Child Help Desk at Railway Station
- Open Shelter Home for Children and Youth at Risk
- DREAM - Drug Rehabilitation Education for Children
- WEDGE - Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Education
- KEEN - Karimadom Education and Empowerment Network (slum Development)
- KISMAT- Kerala Interstate Migrant's Alliance for Transformation, which is a project for the care and restoration of rights of the interstate migrant population.
- IMPACT: Entrance coaching classes for poor children
- MIRACLE: Educational sponsorship and mentoring for orphan children.
- SHEROES: Women empowerment programme.